This, as yet, unnamed gene error interrupts the development of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the brain of the foetus in the womb.

And puberty is affected by varying degrees, according to the severity of the gene error.

A small gene error could delay puberty by a couple of years, for example, while a larger error might block puberty altogether.

Dr Howard said: “This is useful to know and could ultimately lead to better treatments and diagnostic tests.

“If we had a gene panel that we could test we could reassure some patients that they will go into puberty eventually.”

She said the search was on for other genes that influence puberty onset.

“There’s a small handful of genes that have been implicated in early or late puberty so far. There will undoubtedly be more.

“Our discovery is exciting though because it reveals a novel mechanism that we didn’t know about before.”

Prof Richard Sharpe, an endocrinology expert at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Delayed puberty can be extremely embarrassing and distressing and, in some cases, can have health consequences, such as bone problems from prolonged growth.”

Knowledge such as this could help doctors better judge which patients need treatment to help them reach puberty, he added.